Metalworking machine



March 16, 1948. VARMEE 2,437,794

METALWORKING MACHINE March 16, 1948. E. VARMEE 2,437,794

METALWORKING MACHINE ,Filed-sept. 29, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' March 16, 1948. VARMEE 2,437,794

METALWORKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ?atenterl Mar. 16, 1948 Bane Tool Company, Inc., Jamestown, N. Y., corporation of New York Application September 29, 1943, Serial No. 504,282

This invention relates to improvements in metal working machines and more particularly to machines that are capable of performing slotting operations.

In its present form the invention discloses a fixture for mounting a work piece that is applicable to a conventional slotting machine or other type of metal working machine adaptable to the performance of slotting operations. This fixture not only mounts a work piece but includes mechanism for feeding such piece into and out of position for operation by a power actuated tool.

In machines of the nature to which the present invention applies, a slotting operation of consid-' erable proportions may be intended to be performed and this necessitates the provision of rugged and accurate equipment. The fixture must not only be capable of securely holding each work piece in an exact and predetermined location with respect to a power tool, but must also be capable of movement by which to feed the work piece to the tool in such a manner that, in production operations, all work pieces will be so accurately slotted as to be within any specified tolerances. Furthermore, a feed mechanism for a fixture of this nature must be capable of presenting each work piece to a slotting or other cutting tool in a speed or in a manner consistent with the size of slot to be cut, type of cutting tool used, and nature of the material from which the work piece is formed.

It is a purpose and object of the present invention to provide a fixture for a work piece that may be readily adapted to, and utilized on, any of several types of metal Working machines.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a fixture of such ruggedness that it may be used to mount and properly secure a work piece fo operation by a slotting tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixture that includes a mechanism for presenting a work piece to a slotting tool by either a continuous or intermittent feed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a fixture that .is so adjustable as to facilitate slotting operations of various sizes and depths and at desired angles. i

A further and extremely important object of the invention is in the provision of a feed mechanism for a fixture that advances a work piece toward the slotting tool at any desired rate and quickly withdraws the piece preparatory to a repeated operation by the tool.

A still further object and advantage of the present structure resides in the provision of a 8 Claims. (01. 90-49) fixture of such nature as'to enable an operator to quickly and easily mount and remove a work piece with assurancethat successive operations on the same piece or on successive pieces will be within required tolerances.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig, 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a metal working machine in which is embodied one form of the invention; v v V Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine and invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the fixture showing'the feed and stop mechanism, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate certain of the details;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken sub-' stantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and shows the parts in neutral or inoperative-position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the structure of Fig. 4 and shows the'position of the parts of the mechanism at the start of a cutting or slotting operation;

Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig, 4' and shows the position of the parts on completion of an operation and as the fixture is about to rapidly return to inoperative position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectionalview' of the work piece feed, being taken substantially on the line 71 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is afragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4; and i H v Fig. 9 is afragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the relationship of clutches, drive and clutch actuator.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I0 is employed to generally designate a metal working machine to which the present form of the invention is applicable. This machine is generally intended for slotting or similar operations and includes a base H in which may be located the driving means for the slottingtool and fixture feed mechanism; The head I2, as is conventional in machines of this type, mounts a swivel l3 which in turn supports a tool holder M in which is secured a slotting tool It. Suitable drive connection to give a vertical stroke to the tool I6 is provided through the head l2 from the drive means in the base I I.

The base ll includes a bed ll on which is mounted a fixture l8. This fixture is provided with means for obtaining adjustment relative to the bed through a block l9 and screw 2|. The block and engaged portion of the screw may, as shown, be within a hollow portion of the fixture, the screw extending beyond the fixture and being fitted with .a dial 22 by which to accurately determine the position of the fixture with respect to the bed.

The fixture i8 comprises a part 23 that is fixed, except for the adjustment already mentioned, and a movable part 24 that mounts a work piece. Part 23 of the fixture 8 includes an inclined guideway 26 and recessed area 21. The recessed area and guideway extend from the top of this part of the fixture downwardly to a shoulder-28.- An opening 29 is made through this shoulder and, when fitted With a suitable bushing 3|, mounts a shaft 32. This shaft, beneath shoulder 28, is fitted with a beveled gear 33, suitable bearing washers 34 being interposed between the lower surface of the shoulder 2&- and' gear 33. Above the shoulder 28are a series ofithree washersBB, the lowermost washer being pinned or otherwise suitably secured against rotation to the shoulder 28, and the topmost washer being securedtoan annular shoulder 31 of'the shaft 32. The intermediate washer 36 isfreely rotatable and, with the other washers, providesai suitable. thrust bearing for the shaft 32. From the shoulder 31 to its end, the shaft 32 is formed with screw threads 38.

The part 24.0f the. fixture. i8 includes portions 39 that project; intothe guides26of the part. 23. Between the portions 39:. is located a sleeve 4| that is internallythreaded to receive .the screw threads 38 of .the-shaftjl Thesleevell .is shown tobe removablefrom thepart 24, not. only to provide for replacement should .unduewear occur, but also in theevent it is desired to alter; at this point, the rate of feed by which the shaft 32 affects move-. ment of the part 24 of. the fixture. Tothis end, the sleeve 4 igisshown with a boss. that is fitted into arecessfidofthe part 24. Additionally, the sleeve 4| may be-of increasedordecreasedlength, dep nding onithenecessary. travel of the part 24 and the particular operation. to, be performed.

In the upper surface of the part:24iof the: fixture is atrack 44. into which is fitted. a .work piece holder. The details of .this-holderar'e not set forth inasmuch as they form nospecific part of the invention and will be modified to mount different sizes and kinds .ofworkpieces. In the present instance, the holder is designed. tomount the handle and fixed jaw portion of an adjustable endwrench 41. At this point in the manufacture of the wrench, the slot for mounting the adjustable jaw is to be formed. In Fig. 4 of the drawing the cutting orslottingtooli6 is shown in full and dotted line positions of operation with respect to the Wrench 41.

Two wing-like extensions 48 extend beneath the body or the fixture part. and serve to create a finished appearance to the opposite sides of this part, as'well as provide a recessed area by which to permit movement into one extreme position (see Fig. 4). Additionally, one of these extensions is fitted on its lowermost edge with an-adjustable pin 49. On the same extension as pin 49, alaterally extendingboss' l' .is provided. An opening 52, through this boss, receives a shaft53. This; shaft is parallel to the axisof rotation of shaft 32 and, when projected through the boss 5|, is4fitted at its upper end with an adjustable stop Mounted in the base it is ahorizontallydisposeddrive shaft 56Ith'at near one .end' is sup ported in a bearing 51 of the base, and near the other end is supported by spaced apart bearings 58 and 59. The shaft is fitted with a key 6| by which to mount a beveled gear 62 between bearings 58 and 59, this gear being in mesh with gear 33 carried by the shaft 32. Beyond the bearing 51 the shaft is fitted with a collar 63. Adjacent this collar is a gear 64 that, through further gears 66 and 61, connects with a power driven shaft 68. However, gear 64, although not axially movable, is freely rotatable about shaft 56 and is formed with clutch teeth 69. A clutch member ll, keyed to the shaft 56, is provided with complementary teeth 12}, and this member is adapted, by yoke 13, tomoveaxiall-y of the shaft 56 to en ge the teeth 69 and I2 and transmit the drive of gear 6M0 the shaft. Beyond the member H is a locking collar 14 and squared end to the shaft 56. To prevent axial movement of shaft 56 during the period when the clutch member H is moved into andout of engagement with gear 64, the collar 63 is preferably shrunk on theshaft, and on the opposite side of the bearing 51 there is applied a further collar or split nut T1.

In axial alignment with the shaft 56 is a further shaft 18. This shaft is supported by a bearing structure 19, and at one end is fittedwith a gear 8| that, through gear structure 82, is connected with the drive mechanism of the machine. The other end of shaft 18- is in close proximity with an end of shaft 5 6, these proximate ends beingenclosed by a collar 83 that is keyed to shaft 56, and. includes an enlarged portion 84 enclosing an endbf shaft 78;; Projecting into the enlarged portion is a clutch. member 36-. This member is keyed to shaft 18 and includes a yoke 87 having an extension 88 attached to or made integral withv ablock 89 mounted on and secured to a push-rod 9 1 One end of a dog 92 ispivotally mounted on a portion, 43,0f the'base H. The free end of this dog-is formedwith-a tooth 94 that is adapted to engage a ledge 95 in the-block 89. As may be seen in Figures 3- and 5 of the drawing, the lower end of shaft 53' is pivotally joined, asat 96, to the dog h s, movement of; the dog 92, out of engagement with block 89, is controlled by movement of shaft 53', as-will hereinafter be more; fully described. However, a spring pin 91 urges the do 92intoengagement with this block.

A trip arm 98 is mounted atone end; by'a pivot 99. This arm isyieldingly urged into the position of Fig. 5 by a-spring pin Hil An upper flattened area I02 of this arm is, under certain circumstances of operation of the machine, adapted to be contactedby the P11149110 move thearm downwardly against tension of the spring pin it. This arm, when in the position shown in Fig; 4, lies within a slotted area 1060f. theblock'89;

The push-rod 9|; is. parallelto the shaft '56, being somewhat beneath and to one side, as indicatedin. Fig. 3. This, rod is mounted in suitable bearings in the base, and. terminates in a knob H33. Adjacent the knob I03, anextension I04 'of theyckef|3 is mounted. on this rod. being secured thereto .in any suitable manner. Thus axial movement of the rod 9| moves yoke 73 and withit .the .clutch member H. Suchmovement'of thi rod also .moves blockiifl in a direction to compress spring I06, substantially as indicated by a comparison. of; Figures 4 and 5.

Fora complete understanding of the invention, a single cycleof operationoi the machine is. setforthas follows: It; is assumedthat the holder Aims of atype to receive and secure a wrench work piece 41. Also it is assumed that travel of the movable part 24 of the fixture I8 is sufficient for the cutting operation to be performed. If such travel of the part 24 is greater than necessary, it is controllable by adjustment of the stop 54 on shaft 53. Prior to the machines being set in motion the parts are substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. A separate control member (not shown) is provided for setting in motion the tool Hi. In the present illustration of the invention, the feed mechanism, for moving the wrench part 41 into the path of the tool, is of the intermittent type and is synchronized through conventional structure with the reciprocating tool. The rod 91 may now be moved axially by application of pressure to knob I03. This movement of the rod causes yoke I3, that is connected to shaft 56, to mesh teeth 12 with teeth 69 of gear 64. At this point it will be observed that the tooth of the dog 92 remains in engagement with block 89 and that trip arm 98 remains in its lowermost position (that of Fig. 4) until pin 49 moves upwardly away from the surface I02 of the arm. Rotation of shaft 56 causes shaft 32 to rotate by means of the beveled gears 33 and 62. The threaded portion 38 of shaft 32 thus causes part 24 of the fixture to move upwardly in a plane defined by the guide structure of the fixture parts. The slotting operation takes place as the wrench part 41 continues its upward movement and tool [6 reciprocates.

At the point at which the slot in the wrench part 41 is completed, the movable part 24 of the fixture will have been raised to a position such that boss 5| contacts stop 54 and a slight'further upward movement of part 24 raises shaft 53, thereby disengaging the dog 92 from block 89. It will be understood that during this part of the operation, block 89 has been held in the position of Fig. 4, and against tension of the spring lllfi, by this dog. Thus, when the block is released, spring I08 causes it to move the push-rod 9| in a direction to disengage teeth 12, 69, which stops upward feed of the part 24 of the fixture. Examination of Fig. 5 indicates that the block 89 is free to effect disengagement of the drive, since the trip arm 98 has previously moved into its uppermost position (see Fig. 6). Attention is also directed to the fact that the spring I06 has not merely moved the block 89 to return the push-rod 9| to the position of Fig. 4, but has moved this rod an added distance, as shown in Fig. 6, and by so doing, yoke 81 has been moved to eifect engagement of the clutch member 86.

Thus shaft 18, that is rotating at a relatively high speed, now drives shaft 56 in a reverse direction and, through gears 62, 33, shaft 32 is caused to rapidly rotate and return the part 24 of the fixture to its lowermost position. As the part 24 of the fixture approaches neutral or inoperative position, pin 49 contacts the raised trip arm 98, moving it downwardly from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 4, and against tension of the spring pin I01. As this arm moves downwardly, the free, rounded end thereof enters the slot I90 of the block 89, and by contact with the block, moves it in a direction to compress spring I06 and permit the tooth 94 of dog 92 to again engage the block and hold it in the position of Fig. 4. Movement of the block in this direction, to the right as viewed in the drawing, disengages the clutch member 86 and returns the upfeed clutch to the neutral position of Fig. 4. Thus, the parts are again in the initial inoperative position and the cutting or slotting operation may be repeated by again axially moving the push-rod 9|.

It will be evident from the above description that the upfeed drive and rapid return drive are in continuous operation, being connected with the source of power of the machine at all times the machine is in use, and that once .the upfeed is commenced, the machine will function to perform a given work, return the fixture to inoperative position and stop. It is of course clear that with other types of cutting operations and on a work piece other than the Wrench shown, a more rapid or slower upfeed may be obtained by a change in gear ratio of gears 64, 66, and 61, and that the rapid return may in this manner also be altered. Furthermore, shaft 32 may be readily removed and replaced with a shaft having threads; of. a difierent pitch from the threads 38 shown, and sleeve 4| may be readily removed and replaced with another sleeve. Thus this structure lends itself to an easy and quick set-up for any given job and makes possible the ready replacement of worn or broken parts.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of his invention as applied to a cutting or slotting operation of an adjustable jaw wrench, it will be understood that modifications of this structure, adapting it to cutting or slotting operations of other work pieces, are contemplated insofar as such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine having an overhead reciprocable cutting tool, a base, a work mounting fixture on said base, said fixture comprising relatively movable parts, one of said parts being secured to said base and the other of said parts including a Work piece mounting, guide means associating said parts, a feed mechanism for said other part including means for moving a work piece into and out of the path of operation of said tool, a two directional drive for said mechanism, clutches for connecting said drive with a source of power, manually operable means for actuating one of said clutches and means associated with said drive for actuating the other of said clutches.

2. In a metal working machine, a fixture for mounting a work piece comprising relatively fixed and movable parts, guide means mounting the movable part on the fixed part, a screw feed for said movable part, clutch means operable to connect said feed with a source of power to move said movable part in one direction, further clutch means operable to connect said feed with the same source of power to move said movable part in the opposite direction and trip mechanism for successively disengaging said clutch means and engaging said further clutch means and disengaging said further clutch means.

3. In a machine having a base, a work mounting fixture on said base, said fixture comprising relatively fixed and movable parts, guide means mounting said movable part on said fixed part, a screw feed for said movable part, a drive shaft permanently associated with said feed, a manually operable clutch for connecting said drive shaft with a source of power to effect movement of said movable part in one direction, a further clutch operable to connect said drive shaft with a source of power to effect movement of said movable part in the opposite direction, and means operable, by predeterminable movement of said movable part in one direction, to disengage said manuallyroperated' clutchand'engage saidzfurther clutch.

4. In .a machine having: a: reciprocating. cutting tool and a base; afixture-on'said'basehaving. a part for supporting a work piece'and'being movableinto and out of the path'ofoperation of. said tool, a screw .feed associatedwith said part, a drive shaft having permanent gear. connection with'said screw feed, a clutch operable to connect said shaft with a source of power to move said part inthe direction of the operating pathof said tool, a further clutch operable toconnect said shaft with a source of power to move. said part in a direction away. fromthe operatingpath of-said tool, means-providing for alternately. connecting the clutches with the source of power, and further means operable by movement of said part in one direction to render an operating. clutchinoperative.

5. In a machine having a base, a fixture onsaid base including relatively fixed and movable. parts, guide means mounting said movable part onsaid fixed part, a feed mechanism operable to. move said movable part into either of two positions, a drive shaft associated'with said feed mechanism,- a clutch engageable toconnect said drive. shaft with a source of power in a-manner to move said movable partin-one direction, a. further clutch engageableto connect said drive: shaft with a source of power in a manner to move saidmovable part in the opposite'direction, an adjustable stop and trip mechanism operable, by predeterminable movement of said'movable part into .one position, to disengage said clutch and permitengagement of said further clutch, and a trip arm actuable, by movement of said movable: part into another'position, to disengage said. further. clutch;-

6. In a machine havinga reciprocatinggcutting. tool and a base, a fixture: on said'base havin'g..a= part for supporting a work piece, said part being guide mounted for movement into andout' offthe path of'operation of said tool,.-a feed mechanism associated with and operable to move said"part,-.a drive shaft having permanent connection; with said feed mechanism, a clutch engageable to connect said drive shaft with a source ofpower ina manner to move the fixture part into the: path of said tool, a further clutchengageableto connect a sourceof power with said drive shaft in a manner to move said fixture part outof'the path of said tool; clutch control means, stop means oper able, during movement of said-fixture part:into the path of said tool, to actuate said clutchc'ontrol and effect disengagementof said clutch and engagement of said further clutch whereby to reverse the direction of movement ofsaidfixture' 8%. part, and trip means operable, during movement of saidifixture part out of the path of said tool, to actuate saidclutch control to disengage said further clutch.

7. In a machine, a work mounting fixture supportedlfor. movement into and out of an operative position, means for feeding said fixture into and out of. said operative position, a clutchengageable to connect the feed means with a source of power in a manner to move said fixtureinto said operative position, afurther. clutch enga'geable-to connect the feed means with a source ofpowerin amanner to withdraw said fixture from said operative position, a control member for. the clutches, said control member being so associated with the clutches as to be movable to engage only one clutch at a time, stop means associated with said fixture operable to move said control member to disengage said clutch and permit engagement of said further clutch, and trip means operable-by movement of said fixture, to move said control member and simultaneously disengage said clutch and said further clutch.

8. In amachine, a work mounting fixture supported for movement into and out of an operative positiom means for feeding said fixture into and out of said operative position, a clutch engageaole toconnect the feed means with a source of power in a' manner to move said fixture into said operative position, a further clutch engageable to connect the feed means with a source of power in a-manner to withdraw said fixture from said operative position, means providing for alternately connecting said clutches with a source of power, and a mechanism including trip and stop means operable-by movement of said fixture to consecutivel-y disengage said clutch, engage said further clutch and disengage said further clutch,

ERNEST H. VARMEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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